Chapter Sixteen: The State VS. Serena Yvonne

There was only one night that would describe the atmosphere for the rest of the night: awkward. May didn't want to upset anybody else, but at the same time she was so worried that she was going to cause a fight between her and Trucy, she had decided to remain quiet for the time being. Her cheeks blushed red, and not in a good way. She felt trapped within the building and couldn't wait until the party was over.

She decided to get up from her seat and walk around the hall. "Ash?" she cried out. There was no response. May opened the window and popped her head outside. She was greeted with an empty street and an icy breeze. "Ash?" May cried out a little bit louder. She helplessly searched every room of the building and once she returned back to her collegues, she sat next to Trucy and sighed.

Before May had a chance to even ralax. Athena jumped in between the girls and got them to stand up. "Come on girls, can we sing just a few more songs before we go home?"

"I guess so," Trucy responded. "You know we've all got an early start tomorrow!"

Athena nodded. "Of course. To be honest, I'm having such a great time. I don't want it to end."

"To be honest," May muttered to herself. Nobody, apart from Athena would have heard what she had said. "I can't wait for the party to end."

"Aww!" Athena cried out. "The party's only just started."

May sighed once again. She had come to the conclusion that she will never see Ash again until tomorrow. Suddenly, the famous twisted samurai prosecutor himself, Simon Blackquill arrived. He didn't stop long enough to sing, he took Athena's hand and escorted her out of the premises, reminding her that she had an early start the next morning.

May had a feeling that Athena and Simon were going to have plenty of the lemons that they proudly boasted about in Ash's retrial. Only the Judge believed that there was actually any lemons involved.

After Athena left, Apollo sat between Trucy and May. He glanced at both girls and rubbed his chin. He squinted as he stood up in front of them and crossed his arms. "What happened?" Apollo asked in a direct manner.

"What do you mean?" Trucy looked up at Apollo and copied his arm movements.

"Everything is fine," May lied. Her eyes were closed, and deep down, she knew that Apollo wasn't buying any of it.

Apollo shook his head. "Ash has left, Mr. Blackquill has dragged Athena out of here and you two are sitting here not singing. Something happened."

A long moment of silence. May could faintly hear Trucy's heartbeat.

"May kissed me," Trucy admitted as she removed her hat. Trucy leaned over to May and patted her back. May buried her head in her hands. Both girls had cheeks redder than Apollo's work attire.

"It was an accident," May snapped quickly. She turned her body over to Trucy as her hands covered her ears. "I'm really sorry. I was trying to surprise Ash, but I kept my eyes closed and I didn't realise it was you."

Trucy pointed at her chest. "Wouldn't these have given it away?"

"I don't know," May sighed. "I just really into it and... it was a nice kiss."

"I'm sure Ash will understand," Apollo said.

"What if he saw?" May shrieked. "What if he thinks I'm cheating on him? Oh no..."

Three of them had a couple of songs together before walking back to Apollo's apartment. All three of them yawned one by one as they walked towards the path to Apollo's apartment. May could see that all that Apollo wanted to do was to get a good night's sleep.

"I didn't mean to shout at you earlier," Trucy said to May. "It was just a big shock to me."

"It was a shock for me too."

"It will all be fine in the morning," Apollo assured both girls. He leaned against the door and it swung open. Apollo jumped back and scratched his head.

"What's wrong, Apollo?" Trucy asked.

"I don't remember leaving the door open," he replied. He clearly remembered locking the door this morning. His heart began to jump as sweat began to roll down his forehead. "What if I've been robbed?" he asked himself. Without a further thought, he stomped into his apartment, slamming the door behind him.

"Keep it down," May suggested.

Just as Apollo was about to scream, his mouth got covered by somebody behind him. He heard an innocent giggle from behind him. He quickly recognised the voice as Athena Cykes. May gasped in shock. She had no idea where Athena came from and why she was in Apollo's apartment.

"Simon's sleeping," Athena whispered in Apollo's ear. "Don't wake him up."

They all crept into Apollo's lounge as May found Simon Blackquill resting peacefully on a leather sofa. May also took a moment to admire the décor in Apollo's department. She could tell that he loved the colour red.

"Apollo has a nice place," Trucy told May.

"Agreed."

"Why is Mr. Blackquill sleeping on my couch? That was a gift from Klavier. " Apollo asked Athena. If looks could kill, Athena would be headless. "And why are you in your swimming costume."

All of the girls giggled. Athena blushed. "It's not a swimming costume by the way..."

"It's lingerie!" Widget cried out. Athena quickly cradled widget and tried to turn it off as she said, "I don't want to wake Simon up. He's tired. We missed the last train and because your place so near, I suggested we slept here."

Apollo glared at Athena with his hands on his hips. "And you didn't ask me because..."

"Because you're so kind and generous, I knew you wouldn't say no."

"Right..." Apollo hissed.

"You're a kind guy indeed," Trucy interrupted. "One of the kindest guys I've ever met."

"Did you get your lemon?" May asked Athena.

Athena's cheeks turned red. "More than one. How about you?"

"Not on my coach I hope," Apollo muttered as he slowly crept into his own bedroom and closed the door. May thought it was best not to talk any more.

"What happened when I was away?" Athena asked as she jumped in the air, clapping her heads. How Blackquill was still sleeping was beyond May.

"I really think we should leave it till the morning," Trucy suggested. She patted May's back. "Come on May, let's go in the spare bedroom and leave Athena and Mr. Blackquill with their lemons."

In a couple of hours later, they all went to work as if the whole night had never happened. Last night felt like a complete blur to May as she prepared herself for Serena's trial. When she looked into Serena's empty eyes, May felt as guilty as sin.

"Do you know what it's like to feel alone, May?" Serena asked. "Alone and afraid, and nobody will believe you? That's how I've felt for five years. After Ash's arrest, a lot of my friends abandoned me."

"They weren't real friends then," May hissed. "If they were truly your friends, they would have supported you, even at your darkest times." May looked up and saw Ash, Misty, Brock and two blonde people that May had never met before, but she had a feeling that they were friends of Serena. "Look Serena, all your true friends are here rooting for you."

May glanced over Serena's shoulder and saw everyone apart from Ash and Serena glued to their phones. They all seemed very delighted. Brock started to read out the tweets from his phone, many of them believing in Serena's innocence whilst some still believe that Ash was the true culprit.

"So many people supporting Serena on Twitter," Brock exclaimed with happiness. "I wish some of them believed in Ash though, but with all this support, the trial is going to go great."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Misty said. "The one person we need to convince is the Judge. He's the one handing out the verdict."

"I thought about what you said about Iris being the killer," Ash muttered to May. His head was fixated on the floor with shrugged shoulders.

"And you believe me, right?"

"NO!" Ash yelled. "Of course I don't. Iris had no reason to kill my mother and she had no reason to poison Iris. Whoever did it, it must have been a third party. The world's counting on you now," Ash cried out to May. His tears splattered onto May's cheeks as he looked up to her. "If you lose this trial or try to pin this on Iris, I'll never forgive you!"

"That's not fair!" Misty yelled at Ash. She pulled him away from May and twirled him to her eye-level. "What if Iris really is guilty?

"She wasn't at the party," Ash yelled. "It couldn't be her. Anyway she's above the law, she has no reason to lie."

"Ash..." May murmured. "Shelly De Killer's calling card."

"What about it?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow and leaning closer towards May.

"Do you still have it?"

Ash dug his hands deep into his pockets. "Ah, here it is."

"I need it," May told Ash. "It could be decisive evidence."

"Alright then," Ash said, handing the card over to May.

"I wonder if Ash knew what happened last night," Trucy asked May.

May shrugged her shoulders. "Let's talk about it later."

"Is it some sort of girls thing?" Ash asked, showing his dense side.

"I guess so," Trucy giggled. She glanced over at May who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. "May, what's with the grin."

"The Ash I know is back," May exclaimed with both her hands on her heart.

Ash grinned with her.

"MAY MAPLE!" A female voice boomed within the defence lobby. May knew exactly who it was: Franziska Von Karma. As she marched towards May, she had a whip out ready to attack. Instead of whipping May, she ended up whipping Brock.

"Oh," May stammered. "Morning Aunt Franziska."

Franziska pointed at May as everyone else stood back from the whip. "Don't act dumb. WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU PLAYING AT LAST NIGHT? FOOLISH KAREOKE BARS AND KISSING PHOENIX WRIGHT'S DAUGHTER!"

"You saw it?" May shrieked.

"Girls kiss each other all the time," Ash snapped. "What's the big problem?"

Everybody stared at Ash. Ash shook off the glares and pointed at Brock. "That's what you told me Brock."

"Well Ash," Brock mumbled. "What you gotta understand is that each and every girl is different." Brock began to talk to fast that nobody could understand what he was saying. Franziska whipped Ash, and then whipped Brock.

Franziska sighed. "May Maple, you're the best defence attorney in this region." Franziska's voice suddenly became more calm and sincere. Because she was so used to her courtroom persona, her gentle side effected May a lot more. "Even better than Phoenix Wright himself. I don't mind losing to you, my little niece. So it bothers me when you do foolish things that put your job at risk. I don't think Phoenix Wright would react so kindly to last night's incident."

"If it was just a kiss between best friends," Ash interrupted, looking at May. "I don't think your boss would mind. He doesn't even have to know. Just save your best ones for me."

"That felt good!" Brock cried out. "Franziska, you can punish me all day and night."

Misty didn't even bother clipping Brock's ear. "You haven't changed one bit, Brock."

Franziska whipped him again. "It's Prosecutor Von Karma to you!" She looked around as she escorted Brock out of the room. "Now if you excuse me." Before leaving the room, she said, "Good luck, May Maple."

"The trial is about to start," May announced. "Is everybody ready?" Everybody nodded. "Then let's go."

The Judge climbed the staircase to his seat as everybody rose for the Judge. As the Judge sat down, so did the people in the gallery.

"The court is now in session for the trial of Serena Yvonne," the Judge announced. "Are the prosecution and the defence ready?"

"I'm ready," Iris announced with her arms folded. "The defence on the other hand is not."

"What?" May cried out.

"Well, you've come to realise that Ash never loved you," Iris announced. " Serena was in love with him. And Ash, he was cheating on you the whole time. They both worked together to kill Delia Ketchum, and they wanted to get their share of Oak's estate so they could run away together."

"That's a lie!" Serena whispered.

May fainted. The trial had only just started, and she couldn't take what Iris was saying.

"HA!" Iris cried out. "You're such a weakling, May. Pretend to faint because you can't handle the truth. Ash never loved you. He was guilty the whole time."

"Don't listen to her," Trucy pleaded to May. She reached to May and helped her stand up. "Ash wouldn't cheat on you. Iris is making it up."

Iris giggled as she sneered at the defence bench. "You're such a stupid little kid, Trucy."

"...She's eighteen," May growled. "Yeah, she's younger than you, but she's more of a lady then you'll ever be."

"You're just as pathetic," Iris muttered.

"YOU CALL YOURSELF A PROSECUTOR?" Trucy screamed at Iris as she slammed both her hands against the desk. "YOU'RE JUST A BULLY!"

The Judge gasped. His lips broke apart as his beard trembled. "Miss Wright?" he shrieked. "What's gotten into you? I've never seen you so angry before."

"Nothing's gotten into me," Trucy insisted. Her arms tightened up as she gritted her teeth. "I just can't stand people like Iris, who thinks that she's better than everyone else."

"But I am better than everyone else," Iris announced with an evil grin on her face. "I'm a Pokémon master."

"That doesn't mean anything in a court of law," Trucy snapped. "Only the truth matters."

"You contradicted yourself there!" Iris pointed at Trucy. Her arm froze as her pink sleeves swayed below her. Her curled towards her face. "The truth is I am above the law. I could kill you both right now, and nobody could stop me."

"You will do no such thing, Mrs. Den!" the Judge bellowed as he banged his gavel not once, but three times. "Miss Wright isn't the one that had her first child at fifteen. If you dare say anything vulgar against Miss Wright again, I'll have you out of this court before you say: objection. Now let's have your opening statement, if you don't mind."

"Fine!" Iris sighed as if she was a baby throwing toys out of a pram. "The victim was a mother-of-four, Delia Ketchum, She was married to the leader of Team Rocket. Her youngest son, Ash Ketchum was accused of murdering her, but his retrial brought a new witness."

"Misty Waterflower, right?" the Judge asked.

Iris nodded. "Misty caught the defendant in the act as the previous defendant, Ash Ketchum tried to remove all suspicion from her."

"Why would the defendant commit such a terrible crime on her friend's mother?" the Judge asked.

"There was a party for one of the victim's sons on the day she was killed," Iris reminded the court. "The defendant was severely drunk. On her own admission, she had accepted drinks from a guy named Brock Harrison."

"The gym leader of Pewter City?" said the Judge. He shook his head. "He has recently been arrested for sexual assault. He should know better."

"The cause of death was a bullet to the head," Iris continued. "The prosecution believes that it came from the very gun containing the defendants and Mr. Ketchum's fingerprints on it. I'd like to bring Ash Ketchum onto the stand."

"I really hope Ash does tell the truth," Trucy admitted. "I think if he lies to the court again, you should really consider if he's the kind of guy you want to be in a relationship with, May."

"State your name and occupation," Iris demanded at Ash as he stood on the witness box to testify.

"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. I'm a Pokémon trainer."

"You were wrongly accused of committing the crime five years ago," May announced, "because you admitted to the crime. Why did you lie?"

Before Ash started his testimony, May noticed how serious her boyfriend's face was. His eyes were so intense, May could feel the suspense just by looking at his face. She thought about what Trucy said, and shook her head. She knew that Trucy meant well, but she loved Ash more than anything in the world. She didn't want to lose the relationship she worked so hard trying to maintain and rebuild.

"Misty told me about an assassin planning to kill my family. She also said that her and her friends were planning to capture Shelly De Killer and bring him to justice. I remember the meeting as if it had happened yesterday. I suggested throwing a surprise birthday party in the town for my brother, Silver. He was bound to attend if my whole family showed up. I had decided that if something went wrong, I would take the blame."

"Needless to say," said the Judge, "the plan to capture Shelly De Killer failed miserably. Which was why you were found guilty of murdering Mrs. Ketchum."

"That's right," Ash said. He composed himself well, he stood tall with his shoulders laid back and his hands by his side.

"I must admit that I am confused," the Judge admitted as he shook his head. He looked over to May and told her, "Miss Maple, you may begin your cross-examination."

"Ash," May mumbled.

"What's up?"

"Did you listen to Mrs. Den's opening statement?" May asked.

"I did," Ash replied with a heavy heart. Both hands were on his chest as his hid his face away.

"You still believe that Iris had nothing to do with the murder?" May questioned Ash. "Do you understand what she's charging you with? She's accused you of cheating on me and being Serena's accomplice. If she has evidence that supports her theories, you could get arrested again."

"She's a prosecutor, she's meant to find the defendants guilty," Ash responded. He lifted his head and glanced at Iris, and then at May. "Iris couldn't be any further than the truth. If she was at the party she would have seen that there was no way I cheated on you when you were in Hoenn."

"That's not how a prosecutor is meant to work," May told Ash as she slammed her desk and leaned as close as she could over to Ash. "The prosecution and defence are suppose to work together, to show both sides of the story... to lead to the truth."

Iris squinted at May and crossed her arms tighter. "May, you really talk a lot of shit."

The judge waved his gavel in Iris' direction. "I'll wash your mouth with this gavel if you're not careful." The Judge wasn't giving a threat; he was giving a promise. "I don't care if your Pokémon champion or not! I won't accept foul language in my court. This is your last warning."

"If lawyers only cared about winning," May explained to Ash, and to anybody in the gallery who wanted to listen to her, "then justice would never prevail. Anyway, Ash tell the court what this plan was suppose to work? Who was in on this plan and why?"

"Me, Iris, Misty, Dawn and Professor Oak were involved," Ash replied. He crossed his arms as he started at some of his family who were looking over in the gallery. "I knew it would be serious if Professor Oak was involved, but he wasn't at the meeting, so I took the seat in his place."

"Where did this meeting take place?" May explained.

"In an old warehouse in Viridian City," Ash responded. "It used to be one of my dad's hideouts."

"What was the motive for capturing De Killer?"

Ash clenched his fists together. "Revenge!"

"Before Mrs. Ketchum was murdered, Shelly De Killer had brutally murdered Cilan Dent and Drayden Shaga," Iris admitted. She presented photos of both crime scenes. "As you can see Shelly De Killer's calling card is clearly placed on both of their bodies. We were furious with his actions. So the five of us had put together a plan to catch him in Pallet Town and call the police. Because I was pregnant at the time, I couldn't do much. I was unable to attend Silver's birthday party."

"Where the police made aware of your plans?" May asked Iris.

The prosecutor shook her head.

"Why not?" May asked. "You would have avoided this whole mess if you got help from the police."

Iris smiled as she placed her arms behind her back. "I'm not the one being cross-examined, it's Ash."

"Ash, how did Serena get dragged into all of this?"

"May... you already know. I told you yesterday."

May banged the desk with her left hand. "I know, but the rest of court doesn't know. It has to come from your mouth."

"People gave her alcohol," Ash hissed. "Serena was drunk out of her mind, so Misty and I took her to her house and let rest. When Misty left, a gun went off, then flew into the lounge. Serena picked it up, I tried to take it off her, but I was too late. Misty came back, thinking that Serena had murdered my mother."

"What happened after your mother got shot?" May asked.

"I asked Misty to call the police," Ash admitted. I hid the gun in my bedroom and took Serena to the nearest hospital. After that, I called you."

May nodded as she remembered the phone call very well. "I came to Kanto as quickly as I could."

5 Years Ago: Phone Call Between Ash & May

"Hi there Ash! How are you?"

"Terrible!"

"Huh? What's with all the trembling in your voice? ...Are you crying?"

"Something bad happened in Pallet Town. Mom's dead and Serena's in hospital, I hope she's okay."

"Hang on! Calm down! Where are you?"

"I'm in the Viridian City's general hospital. I'm in the A&E department."

"I'm still in Hoenn at the moment, but I'll be down there as soon as I can."

"Thanks May. Don't know how I'll do it without you."

"Our reunion was cut very short," Ash remembered. "That's when I got arrested and the day Misty got poisoned. I felt that I had lost everything. Even though Serena made a full recovery, she couldn't remember anything that happened that day. It was for the best. I wanted to protect her. Didn't want her to be a victim of a corrupt court."

"You really don't trust our legal system do you?" May asked Ash.

Ash shook his head. "I didn't. The modern court system is just so rushed. I mean a trial that can only last three days. How many mysteries can be solved within that time? None!"

"And you remember your first trial?" May asked Ash. "Because I remember it perfectly. It gave me nightmares for a long time."

Five Years Ago: The State Vs. Ash Ketchum

"NO!" May yelled at the top of her voice. She resisted the bailiffs as she grabbed Ash's arm and threw herself on the floor. Hot tears streamed down her face as Ash became silent. "TELL THEM IT ISN'T TRUE. I KNOW IT WASN'T YOU!"

The prosecutor, Franziska Von Karma separated the couple with her whip. "May Maple!" she snapped. "Ash Ketchum has already confessed his guilt. His fingerprints are all over his gun. There is no reason to continue this trial."

"Quite right," the Judge nodded his head in agreement. He threw his gavel in the air, "I am ready to deliver my verdict."

"Why is everybody silent?" May pleaded. She looked over at Ash's defence attorney who was slowly walking away. "Hey, don't walk away from your client. HE NEEDS YOU!"

"GUILTY!" the Judge announced as he banged his gavel. The bailiffs grabbed May and tried to escort her out of the courtroom. She shook them off and threw herself against the wall.

"I'm not letting you get executed for this," May promised Ash as she slammed both hands against the wall. Before the bailiffs escorted her from the court, she pointed her finger directly at Ash. "I'm going to become a defence attorney. I'll work for the best law firm in the world, and I will clear you name."

"Don't be so foolish!" Franziska barked. "You're just a foolish fool, living in a foolish world."

"I'm sorry for putting you through that," Ash told May. "I'm sorry I haven't been the best boyfriend in the world."

"I understand," May said. "It must have been a very difficult five years for you."

"Have you finished yet?" Iris snapped. "This cross-examination has been going on for too long. There are plenty of other witnesses to interrogate too ya know?"

"A little bit of patience goes a long way, Mrs. Den," the Judge informed. He stroked his head as if to say that he had a migraine of epic proportions.

"Your Honour," May said, raising her chin,

"Yes, Miss Maple."

"Trucy and I spoke to Detective Gumshoe, he said the gun with Ash and Serena's fingerprints didn't match with the bullet in Mrs. Ketchum's head."

"It did not?" the Judge asked. "Why was this not discovered five years ago?"

"Something that was most likely overlooked," May suggested. "I think that alone proves that neither Ash or Serena committed the crime. That gun you're holding in your hands, Iris. The one with Ash and Serena's fingerprints IS NOT THE MURDER WEAPON. The real weapon is still out there."

"OBJECTION!" Iris yelled out. "Don't get to excited. It doesn't prove anything. All it proves is that Serena could have had another gun."

"Where would this second gun come from?" May asked Iris. She wanted to tell the whole world that Iris was responsible, but without sufficient proof, Serena could be found guilty, and Ash would never forgive her. May wouldn't even forgive herself.

"Who knows," Iris said. "But the fact remains that Ash and Serena had a hold of a gun. Ash hid the other gun in his bedroom, and disposed of the real murder weapon as he took Serena into the hospital."

"Where would be have disposed this weapon?" May asked. "How do you know there was another weapon?"

"Just a calculated guess," Iris giggled with her hands in the air.

"I think it's more than that," May said, shaking her head. "The only way you would have known about the second gun was for you to be there at the party!"

"I already told you: I wasn't at the party."

Trucy broke her silence. "How about we call Detective Dick Gumshoe to the stand?"

The Judge nodded ferociously. "Yes! An excellent suggestion. Detective Gumshoe, please come to the stand."

Ash marched to to his seat and hugged Pikachu as he sat back down. Detective Gumshoe walked up to the stand leaving a huge shadow behind him.

"Please confirm your name and occupation," Iris demanded.

"Detective Dick Gumshoe," he said. "During Detective Oak's suspension, I've been put in charge of this investigation."

"Please make your testimony a quick one," Iris ordered. "I've got to pick up my kids in Johto today."

"I'll try," Gumshoe promised. "I have no doubt in my mind that the defendant is innocent. I received various witness accounts that she was intoxicated and several people have seen people give this poor girl alcohol. Giving a minor alcohol is a very serious offence. The ones responsible will risk having their licence removed. I believe it was intentional so that she would unable to give a reliable testimony, making her the prime suspect. Besides the gun planted in the house didn't match with the bullet in Delia's head. Therefore Serena Yvonne is innocent."

"You see Iris!" May yelled. "There's no way Serena could have done it. Detective Gumshoe, who do you think is responsible for Mrs. Ketchum's death."

"Ash Ketchum: her youngest son."

"I was afraid of that."

"The double jeopardy means that Ash can no longer be tried to murder," Iris sighed. Her right hand rested on her chin as she took a few moments to think. She smirked and pointed at Ash. "We can still bring Ash Ketchum to justice!" Iris demanded. "We can arrest him again, and put him on trial for being an accomplice to Delia Ketchum's murder."

The Judge banged his gavel like an axeman chopping heads off. "This trial shall have an immediant recess. There is still much work to be done before we can deliver a verdict. It is also with regret that I ask a bailiff to please arrest Ash Ketchum immediately."

"What!" May shrieked. "But I was doing so well..."

"Don't give up!" Trucy begged. "Tomorrow's another day."

"May!" Ash yelled as the bailiffs dragged him out of the courtroom. "Don't worry about me, just clear Serena's name."

"DAMMIT!" May screamed.

"It's quite handy being above the law," Iris said with her hands on her hips. "I can get revenge on the ones who screwed up my plans."

"HOLD IT!" May snapped. "Is that a confession?"

Iris shook her head. "Of course not, I'm just saying, that nobody would dare mess with me again."

"MRS. DEN!" the Judge roared, madder than ever. "YOU TRULY ARE DISPICABLE!"

The Judge stormed off and just like that, the trial had been paused. Iris left the court with an evil smile on her face and Gumshoe stood in the court, with no idea what was going on.